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Russia's human rights record in spotlight as country prepares for Winter Olympics in Sochi

Russian lawmakers backed a sweeping amnesty law Wednesday that could see jailed members of the Pussy Riot punk protest band released early and arrested Greenpeace activists avoiding prison, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The law received enough votes in favor in the Duma that it does not require President Vladimir Putin's signature, Ria Novosti said.

The amnesty, to mark the anniversary of the adoption of Russia's post-Communist constitution in 1993, will be applied to thousands of Russian prisoners, the agency reported.

It is due to take effect on Thursday, according to the Russian government daily newspaper, Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

Pussy Riot's Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina are serving two-year jail terms for their part in a performance critical of Putin, when he was Prime Minister.